Next Generation Conference

November 10-12, 2025 | Kansas City, MO

The only event designed specifically for emerging leaders in beer & beverage distribution is heading to the capital of BBQ. Why is Next Gen a must-attend for your company’s high performers?

🧢 Attendees check brand hats at the door to help each other find solutions to everyday challenges

🧑‍🎓 Our incisive and timely program challenges your team to imagine new ways to win in an evolving market

🗣️ Next Gen leadership training is the real deal, helping your team build tangible skills that pay immediate dividends.

Invest in your company’s future while giving your team tools to WIN NOW — send them to Next Gen 2025.

 

Join the Action

Registration

Registration for the event includes all conference programming and receptions.

Prices

Early Bird: $795

Regular Registration Fee: $895

Only distributor members may attend the conference and early bird pricing will end June 30, 2025.

Register Now

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

All cancellations and requests for refunds must be made in writing. Telephone requests cannot be honored. Please email gmoery@nbwa.org for cancellation requests. A 100% refund will be made on registration cancellations received in writing by November 1, 2025. No refunds will be made for registration fees after November 1, 2025. 

Hotel Accommodations

Luxury Kansas City Hotel | Loews Kansas City Hotel

Loews Kansas City Hotel
1515 Wyandotte St. | Kansas City, MO 64108

Rate: $235+taxes per night single/double occupancy

The last day to receive the discounted room rate is October 20. The NBWA guest room block can sell out prior to that date. Once the block sold, room rates cannot be guaranteed.

 

Book Your Hotel Room

Speakers

Branden Muhl

CEO of Mahaska

As CEO of Mahaska, Branden Muhl drives overall vision and strategy for the company. He is a fifth generation family owner of Mahaska (seventh generation overall), continuing more than a century of heritage in formulating, manufacturing, marketing, distributing, and most recently retailing food and beverage products. Muhl continues to expound upon business development efforts at Mahaska by building an independently owned brand portfolio, engaging in territorial expansion, entering the alcoholic beverage category, and the retail channel.

Prior to his current roles, Muhl spent eight years on Wall Street as an equity portfolio manager where he focused on consumer & healthcare equities. He continues his investment activities by way of B Group Capital, a long-short equity investment company that specializes in healthcare subsectors such as biotechnology, genetic sequencing, and molecular diagnostics as well as consumer sub sectors like Location-Based Entertainment (LBE), hospitality, and retail.

Currently, Muhl is involved in management of diverse business interests, serves on multiple Boards of Directors, and is involved in a number of organizations across various industries. These businesses and organizations include: B Group Capital, Greystone Hotel Miami, Independent Bottler’s Association (IBA), JOMAST, Museum of Ice Cream, and YPO (Dallas Chapter).

Muhl holds a Bachelor’s degree from The University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business where he graduated Summa Cum Laude

David Steinman

Vice President of Beer Marketer's Insights

David Steinman joined Beer Marketer’s INSIGHTS September 2013 and represents the 3rd generation at the company along with his brother Jason. David worked for years as Senior Editor of Craft Brew News and Senior Editor across all Beer Marketer’s INSIGHTS publications before he was appointed VP/Executive Editor in 2022.

Prior to BMI, David worked for two years as Marketing Coordinator at Long Trail/Otter Creek Brewing Company in Vermont. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a major in Business and a minor in Music. In his spare time, David is an avid guitar player and snowboarder.

Jason Steinman

Senior Editor/Director of Business Development of Beer Marketer's Insights

Jason Steinman joined BMI in March 2020 (no joke) and serves as a Senior Editor and the Director of Business Development at Beer Marketer’s Insights. In this role, he contributes to the editorial content of multiple publications while spearheading growth initiatives to help expand BMI’s reach and impact.

Before joining BMI, Jason honed his skills in brand marketing at PepsiCo North America Beverages for three years.

Jason graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He currently lives in New York City with his wife, Cam, and their Aussiedoodle Ziggy.

Austin Bristow

Owner of Elevated BI

Austin Bristow helps beverage distributors make sense of their data and turn it into clear, actionable insights. With over 15 years in the industry—including more than a decade with fairlife and the Coca-Cola system—he understands the challenges wholesalers face with reporting, operations, and staying efficient. Through his independent conultancy, Elevated BI, Austin helps distributors automate reporting, simplify data, and give teams the tools they need to make smarter, faster decisions. He’s also a TEDx speaker and experienced trainer who’s passionate about making data approachable for leaders at every level.

Past Conference Highlights

Over the two-day conference, attendees heard from NBWA leadership, inspirational business experts, industry veterans and their Next Gen peers – all while competing with one another for exciting prizes in the “Next Gen Games.”

“Connecting with other emerging leaders across the country is an important way to build lasting relationships that will help guide the beer distribution industry into the future,” said NBWA Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kim McKinnish. “As we write beer’s next chapter, conference attendees will play an important role in ensuring the beer and beverage distribution industry continues to adapt while also championing the policies and practices that have made this great industry what it is today.”

Join NBWA’s Next Generation Group

NBWA’s Next Generation Group brings together emerging leaders in the beer distribution industry. The group focuses on learning more about the beer business, getting more involved with the association and networking with other distributors from all areas of the country representing all brands. All NBWA distributor members, regardless of age, job title or relation to ownership, are eligible to join.

To be added to the email list to receive newsletters, member communications and information about upcoming events, click the button below!

Next Gen Sponsorship

Want to get your brand in front of the distribution leaders of today and tomorrow? Learn how to get involved by clicking the links below.

Next Gen Sponsorship Opportunities